Charles w



(No Model.) Y G. W. STIGKNEY "ORB sBPAR-ATOR.

Patented Jan. 9,1883,

Ef/m2225612;

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES XV. SIICKNEY, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT-OF COLUMBIA.

oai-:'-si-:PARAToa 'SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 270,259, dated January e, lees.

` Application filed September 23, 1882. (No model.) t

To all ltti/tom tt may concern:

Beit known that I, CHARLES W. STICKNEY, a citizen ofthe United States, residingat Washington, inthe District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ore-Separators, of which the following is a specification, reference being hadtherein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention is a machine for separating r: ore trom tailings. The principle on which it works is the gradual washing away ofthe tailings and leaving behind the ore by reason of its greater speciiic gravity. The advantage I gain is in the working of the machine without labor or attention, by which the separation is p effected, and the means for regulating'the period of time between successive automatic movements, and the quantity 0f Water to be used.

ze Figure. l represents the oretray A slightly inclined, with feed ore-box B, swinging shelf C, flood-trough D, weight-box E, and hammer F. Fig. 3 shows the swinging shelf U, slats E, and stanchions d disconnected from the tray. Fig. 2 shows the {lood-trough D and weight-box E, likewise disconnected.

I make a broad shallow box or ore-tray, A, to receive the ore. from the feed-box B. There is no end to this box at its lower end.

3o other end or head of the tray I make a feed `ore-box, B,provided with a crackor small holes at its bottom to feed the ore and water gradually to the tray. I make a :dood-trough, D, with boards of unequal width, so that when the top ofthe trough is level one side will stand vertical and thed other oblique, as in Fig. 2. I hang this on pivots ff, between stanchions a a, `so that when filled with water it is in unstable equilibrium over the head-of 4o the ore-tray. I attach rigidly to the ends of flood-trough D two upright staves, b b, and to the middle of its upright side a box, E,`for sand, stones, or any convenient weight.

At the foot of the ore-tray I erect two stanl chiens, d d, one on each side, and between At the Vtray A its nearer edge comes under the edge of the tray, and its inclination is away from the tray. Directly beneath the edge of the tray A is a trough, H, to carry offI waste water and tailings, and next to it, farther from the tray A, is the feed ore-box G of an apparatus similar to that just described, a series being placed one after another on a slope. Along the side of the series runs a water-race, which, by an appropriate pipe or tr0ugh,I, supplies the Hood-trough and operates hammers placed beside each tray, which constantly tap the tray by any common device, such as a wa ter-wheel, crank, and rod connected to the handle of each hammer. f Y

The operationis as follows: Ore from ast-ampmill and water ow into the first feed-box B and gradually spread over the tray A. The sur plus waterand partof the tailings run to waste over the trays lower edge, the heavier part remaining on the tray A. Meanwhile the doodtrough D has been iilling, the time of which experience regulates bythe weights put in the weight-box E. When the water rises in the trough high enough to overcome this weight the lioodetrough D dumps its'water and washes everything off the tray; but at the same time theswin gin g shelfC, connected with the trough',

is swung up under the edge of the tray by theA motion communicated to it from the moving trough D through-the 'staves and slatsb, c,

.and c, and the ore, instead of flowing into the away, leaving the heavier ore in a suitable box at the bottom of the series. The running ot` ofthe tailings is facilitated by the constant tapping of the hammers F.

Any convenient form of weight may be used instead of the weight-box E, such as iron or stone hung toa nail in the side of the tlood' ing-trough D by a rope or chain.

I am' aware that a water-trough fordistributing water evenly over the ore-tray and hung zoo end of the ore-tray, to be operated by hand for separating ore from tailings, is non new, as shown in the same patent and elsewhere. I am aware that Hoopers Patent No. 139,390 shows a dumping-buddle hung ou trunnions, to be dumped vby hand, and that Davis patent, April 28, 1836, and VVilders Patent No. 149,622 show devices for jarring the ore-tray by hand. I'claim none ot' these devices.

l claim- 1. In au ore-separator, a water-receptaclel suitably supported in equilibrium and provid- A ed with a weight for keepingr it upright until suitably supported in equilibrium and provided with aweight for keeping it; upright until lled with water, in combination with the means herein described for separating the ore from the tailings, consisting of the tray, a 2 5 swinging shelf, means whereby it is actuated simultaneously with the said water-receptacle, and the hammers, substantially as described.

3. In an ore-separator, the combination ot' a4 water-receptacle, means for supporting and operating the same, and an adjustable weight, whereby the water-receptacle is periodically dumped and brought back to its normal position, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I az' my signature in .35 presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES XV. STIGKNEY. Witnesses:

LLOYD F. KELEHER, EDMOND BRODHAG. 

